Full enforcement of medicine price display policy begins Jan 1
KUALA LUMPUR: Private healthcare centres and community pharmacy facilities must fully comply with the medicine price display policy rules starting Jan 1 next year, the Dewan Rakyat heard yesterday.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the move follows an enforcement education period of three months ending on July 31 where no penalty and compounds were issued.
"This was then continued with the phased administrative enforcement period on Aug 1, during which inspections and monitoring will be conducted until Dec 31.
"During this period, reminder letters will be issued to non-compliant facilities, while compounds for repeated offences will be imposed from Oct 1," he said.
A full enforcement will be made next year.
Lukanisman said this in response to Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat), who questioned the status of the implementation phase of the medicine price display regulation and its effectiveness in curbing hidden healthcare costs.
He added that as of July 31, 55 per cent (900 out of 1,639 inspected facilities) had satisfactorily complied with the requirements.
"However, 45 per cent, or 739 facilities, had yet to meet the expected compliance level, including having incomplete price displays or displays that were not easily accessible.
"These findings indicate the need for stricter monitoring, guidance sessions, and phased enforcement against non-compliant premises," he said.
The Health Ministry will also conduct the Medicine Prices Monitoring Study, starting next month, to evaluate the policy's impact to improve pricing transparency.
The aim, he said, was to create a more transparent, fair and consumer-friendly private healthcare system.
The mandatory price labelling for medicines at private healthcare centres and community pharmacy facilities was rolled out on May 1.
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